April 1917

Bomb Explosion

Alarming Occurrence in Dundee
A bomb which had been sent home from the front was on Tuesday responsible for an alarming occurrence in Dundee, the remarkable feature of which was the absence of more serious consequences.The scene of the peculiar affair was the small court at the rear of the house at 10 Smellie’s Lane occupied by Mrs Nicoll, wife of Pte. Wm. Nicoll, a soldier in the Black Watch, who is at present in hospital in England. Some time ago Pte. Nicoll was wounded and he sent home as a souvenir a specimen of the missile which caused his wounds. It was in the form of a small hand grenade, harmless to look at, but, as a rule, deadly in its results.

By some means unexplained, the grenade came into the hands of the wounded soldiers little boy David Nicoll, aged 13 years, who commenced to amuse himself with it. His amusement came to a sudden and unexpected end. The little lad had just taken the bomb out of the house into the court, when it exploded. A young girl named Ann McDonald was beside him at the time of the explosion, but, fortunately neither sustained serious injury. The lad Nicoll escaped with laceration of two of the fingers of his left hand; while the girl sustained only slight injuries to her left leg and right arm. Both were taken to the Royal Infirmary, but were able to be removed home after their injuries had been attended to.

Slight injury was also sustained by an elderly woman who lives in the vicinity. It seems she had been leaving her house, when a part of the exploded bomb crashed up against her door and struck her on the arm.

Driving Back the Germans

Under heavy snow showers, driven before a bitter wind, interspersed with flying gleams of sunshine, our army in France has this week been busily engaged in driving back the Germans on a front of close on 70 miles. For the moment the advance has slowed down, partly because of the weather changing to the worse, partly to await the bringing up of the heavy guns, and the pounding to pieces of the second German line, where the first is already in our hands. Prisoners have been steadily flowing in all the week, and the only estimate of captures so far officially given – over 11 000 men and over 100 guns – must by now have been considerably exceeded.

There have been many exciting incidents in the course of the fighting – among them the magnificent rush of the Canadians, which carried Vimy Ridge – an eminence which has been fought for continuously for 2½ years. Just on the edge of the ridge, crowning a detached eminence, is the village of Monchy les Preux. Its capture was a brilliant piece of work, in which Scottish and English infantry, cavalry and a tank participated.

Dundee Officer Wounded

Information has come to hand that Lieut. George C. Leslie, Black Watch, son of Mr Jas. G. Leslie, Argyle Street, Dundee, has been dangerously wounded.

Lieut. Leslie prior to the war held an appointment with a jute firm in London, being previously employed as a salesman with Messrs J. Methven & Co, Royal Exchange Place, Dundee. He joined the Seaforth Highlanders in September 1914. He went to France in May 1915 and in the spring of 1916 received his commission. Lieut. Leslie returned to France in October 1916, and has been through much heavy fighting.

Dundee Women’s War Relief Committee

(Approved by the War Office)
Flower Day,
Dundee, Monifieth, Newport and Wormit.
Saturday, 21st April.
The funds are entirely spent of Comforts for our men at the Front and more
Money is needed if the supply is to be maintained.

Bellman’s Budget

Tomorrow the new food regulations governing the amount of meat, sugar, bread and flour to be consumed in public eating-houses will come into force. There is to be a meatless day once a week and potatoes only twice weekly. Sweeping regulations in quantities allowed for each person are made, and the people who dearly love a good hearty meal in public restaurants, hotels or clubs etc., will be disappointed. In these war times, however, not one, I fancy, will complain very bitterly. “Sma fish are better than nane ava.”

War Economy

You can help to secure this by
Buying at Out Store.
Ironmongery, Cutlery, E.P Goods, Cooking Utensils.
Wedding Presents.
Spring Cleaning Goods.
Sinclair’s Ironmongery Stores,
35, Nethergate, Dundee.

Eking Out Food Rations with Oatmeal

Oatmeal Pudding - M, Pullar, Crieff, says;- This is the recipe of an oatmeal pudding I often make, to serve with meat, since potatoes became so scarce. Take 2 to 3 cupfuls of oatmeal, 4 to 6 ounces of suet, 1 small onion cut very fine, pepper and salt to taste, and a good grating of nutmeg. Mix all together with cold water till fairly moist put in a greased bowl and steam for about three hours.

Oatmeal Jelly - In stead of making porridge in the usual way I make oatmeal jelly, a plate of which along with a cup of tea and a piece of toast makes a substantial breakfast. Mrs Brady, Port Glasgow.

Potatoes and Oatmeal – Put a piece of roast fat in a stew pan, then add a few slices of potatoes and a little water. Then cut up small an onion or more according to the quantity of potatoes used, and put on top of the potatoes, add salt and pepper. Then steam slowly for two hours stirring now and again. After the potatoes are cooked add a few cupfuls of oatmeal and steam again for half an hour. J.S., Ellon.

The Land Army

Appeal to Scotswomen
An appeal is now being made to Scotswomen of 18 and upwards to volunteer for national service on the land. The terms offered include:-
Board and lodgings during training.
One free outfit (high boots, breeches, two overalls and a hat).
Wages, 18s per week (or the wage rate of the district, whichever is higher).
Out of work pay at the rate of 2s 6d a day for a period not exceeding four weeks.
Arrangements are being made for training women in different parts of the country. No woman will be sent to work on a farm unless the housing and working conditions are approved by the Women’s County Committee. As much of the work the women will be engaged in is men’s work ordinarily, it is of the utmost importance that they should be of good constitution and vigorous. The number required is a large one, and all strong healthy women should apply (except those engaged in such essential occupations as nursing, the making of munitions, in shipbuilding yards or in Government work).

Enrolment forms may be obtained from any Post Office or Employment Exchange or from any National Service Office.

The War in Brief

Ten more villages recaptured since Tuesday by Franco-British Armies.
Severe pressure being put on St Quentin and Laon – places of great military value.
Germans reported concentrating on Riga-Dvindk front.
20,000 Turks routed by British in Palestine – 900 prisoners.
Hospital ship Asturias sunk by German submarine – 82 casualties.
Liner Alnwick Castle sunk by torpedo 320 miles from land.